Brillo is Google’s new lightweight Internet of Things operating system

Android needs to be lightweight so that low-end mobile devices will be able to run it smoothly, but even Android is too intensive for the kind of minimal hardware that’s being used to power Internet of Things devices while still keeping them affordable. To fix this, the company has essentially taken Android and “polished it down” to the bone so that even the weakest hardware can run it. This polished down operating system is known as Brillo, and it’s going to be the platform that brings Google into the smart home. 

Right now, you might find a Brillo steel wool pad on your sink, but thanks to Google, Brillo will be all over your home later this year. The company announced its new “underlying operating system for the internet of things,” which it’s calling Brillo, at Google I/O. Google has “taken Android and polished it down” to its core essentials, according to Sundar Pichai, Senior Vice President. This means it can run all devices with a smaller footprint but still supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Thread. Pichai also introduced Weave, a common language that lets devices talk to each other, the cloud, and your phone. Because it’s cross-platform, Weave works with Brillo. A command that means “unlock” to your smart door lock means the same to all your other smart devices. Google will introduce a Weave certification program, so all devices will be able to communicate, regardless of their developers. Not only will your devices be able to talk to each other, you’ll be able to talk to your devices, thanks to voice commands. “We hope we can connect devices in a seamless and intuitive way,” said Pichai.